First Time Traveling Abroad? Learn How To Get A U.S. Passport

by erin on September 21, 2010

Traveling across to different countries is a little different than it used to be with all the security issues that have popped up in the last ten years. But one thing has not changed about leaving the country, and that would be getting an American passport. If you want to go traveling to the exotic areas of the world, and you don’t know how to get a U.S. passport, then just read the following advice.

First, like anywhere or anything else, you are going to need the proper forms. When traveling and applying for a passport it is vital that you have all the necessary paperwork and documentation you need to make the process painless and simple. If you don’t have the paperwork, you can forget getting a passport. All you need to do it go to the Post Office and get the paperwork. The Post Office has been in the passport business for a long time, and has processed tens of thousands of them.

When you get the paperwork, make sure you follow all of the instructions exactly as they are laid out. This is one area of paperwork where there is no room for error since you will be dealing with the international community. You can quite easily get the necessary forms from over the internet at the correct government site. But, there are some restrictions when it comes to getting the copies on your own. One simple request is that the paperwork does not have any hole in it like paper that goes into a binder. And, formal copies must be in black and white.

You are going to have to prove your citizenship while getting a new U.S. passport. Just by looking and sounding American will not do the job. Take a United States birth certificate with you that you received from your county or city of birth. In no way will a copy of this work.

If you don’t have a birth certificate from the United States because you came here as a child, then you need to have either a naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship. These are crucial documents that you should have saved anyway.

Next, you are going to have to prove your identity. If you have had a previous passport, then that could work for identification purposes. Again, a certificate of citizenship, or a naturalization certificate will work. Take a driver’s license with you, and if you have government or military identification, then that will help too.

You will need to get two photographs of yourself. You will need to wear normal everyday clothing when the picture is made, and you can’t wear a hat. If you do wear glasses normally then you will have to have those for the picture too. For all this to be done right by people who have done this before, do it at the Post Office.

Have a social security card with you if you don’t know your number, and make sure you have the right amount of money for the new United States passport fee. You have just learned how to get a new passport.